What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

I met a guy on a ride this weekend who works at the LBS. As a fellow Intense rider, we were both interested in each otherís bikes, but he definitely let me know that it stressed him out that 275ís mean that his shop would have to stock more tires, rims, and frames. Sure, Iíve read about this complaint before, but had never really come face to face, so to speak, with it before.

My initial response was, Ďso, donít stock any of it, no problem, I order on-line mostly anywayí. To which he responded with the threatened demise of the LBS. My response to that was, again, no problem, I do all my own work anyway. I was more diplomatic than that, but our initial meeting didnít really start off too well. It did make me see why the big bike companies might be slow to accept 275/650B. They donít want to stress their shop owners to take on more inventory. (?)

So, I put it to you all out there. What is the appropriate response to bike shop complaint about 275? In my head Iím thinking, ĎWhat? Discourage mountain bike evolution to make it easier on the shop owner?í I still donít totally get it. It doesnít seem to me like a few extra tires/rims/frames in a shop would put someone out of business. Those are the only parts that are different that a shop might want to have in stock. Whoís buying forks at their LBS? Or frames, for that matter? If you canít afford another grand to stock your shop with some tires, maybe youíve got more to worry about than another wheel size. And to be honest, with the crappy service Iíve gotten from some bike shops in the past, I personally, donít mind if there are a few less of them around. Seriously, am I missing something???

Well, it is more than just a few tires, rims, etc.
Sure, there is money in the inventory itself but it is also the valuable space those products take up.

That being said if you can not be flexible and keep up with the trends then you will probably go out of business eventually anyways.

As far as internet causing the demise of the LBS and other types of brick and mortar stores, there is a lot of truth to that and even though you may do all your own maintenance, it will still eventually affect you. Does this mean you should stop ordering online and only buy local? No, it just means try and give your local shop a chance but it is your money so spend it how want. However, if you are only spending a few more dollars, it is well worth keeping it in your community vs some where completely different.

Keeping money in your community = more jobs in your community = more money spent in your community = a more prosperous community.

Yes, buying local is absolutely the right thing to do. And I do buy things locally, when I need to. Theyíre just not 275 specific parts. I don't want this post to degenerate into an LBS v. On-Line retailer debate. I guess part of my thinking is that, the LBS has the option to wait until 275 has gained enough traction to warrant the shop space and inventory dollars for those parts. In other words, let the market dictate what to stock. Until then, donít complain. It only makes me want to shop elsewhere.

Wasn't trying to turn it in to that.
I buy things online that I could buy locally if the the savings is enough.
Also buy online if the local shops don't have/ can't get what I want.

That being said, I can understand the frustration of the 275 to a LBS.
You say you buy all your 275 parts online but other stuff locally.
This is probably partially due to the fact that your LBS does not carry 275 parts.
Which means if the 275 did not exist and you had to get 26er or 29er parts, you might buy them from him.
So if he doesn't stock them, that is revenue lost.
He is pretty much forced to get on the train or get left at the station.

That being said, him griping about it isn't going to change the trend and may only alienate a local rider. A better response from him may have been something like "We don't carry a lot of 275 stuff but we can get it. Please give us a chance to earn your business and possibly if we increase our need we can start keeping the stuff in stock for you and other 275 riders".

Re: What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

Originally Posted by titus247

I met a guy on a ride this weekend who works at the LBS. As a fellow Intense rider, we were both interested in each otherís bikes, but he definitely let me know that it stressed him out that 275ís mean that his shop would have to stock more tires, rims, and frames. Sure, Iíve read about this complaint before, but had never really come face to face, so to speak, with it before.

My initial response was, Ďso, donít stock any of it, no problem, I order on-line mostly anywayí. To which he responded with the threatened demise of the LBS. My response to that was, again, no problem, I do all my own work anyway. I was more diplomatic than that, but our initial meeting didnít really start off too well. It did make me see why the big bike companies might be slow to accept 275/650B. They donít want to stress their shop owners to take on more inventory. (?)

So, I put it to you all out there. What is the appropriate response to bike shop complaint about 275? In my head Iím thinking, ĎWhat? Discourage mountain bike evolution to make it easier on the shop owner?í I still donít totally get it. It doesnít seem to me like a few extra tires/rims/frames in a shop would put someone out of business. Those are the only parts that are different that a shop might want to have in stock. Whoís buying forks at their LBS? Or frames, for that matter? If you canít afford another grand to stock your shop with some tires, maybe youíve got more to worry about than another wheel size. And to be honest, with the crappy service Iíve gotten from some bike shops in the past, I personally, donít mind if there are a few less of them around. Seriously, am I missing something???

I am in total agreement. Where I am it's more like all the LBS and everybody else thinks the tweener wheel is nuts or a joke. Those who are done with 26 are on 29. Those who are not done with 26 never will be.

So I do my own thing buying online, do my own wrenching and wheelbuilding, and hang out in this forum for opinions of like minded riders

Old enough to know better. And old enough not to care. Best age to be.

Not so long ago, many shop owners voiced the same concerns about 29ers. Now, many of those same shops are selling far more 29ers than 26" bikes. I bet we'll see similar patterns with 27.5. Biggest fear: 26" bikes and the relevant parts won't be stocked, in favor of 27.5/29.

Why do you care to bother arguing with the lbs guys? Ive had shops do all kinds of weird, questionable things I dont agree with. The appropriate response is nothing. They can do whatever they want up to and including shutting their doors.

Keeping money in your community = more jobs in your community = more money spent in your community = a more prosperous community.

I absolutely beyond any doubt guarantee you that every community can prosper without an LBS in it

I gotta sound in on this because I feel like a couple of you have bad experiences with your LBS, but you gotta remember that you had a bad experience with someone who worked at the shop and it's not the LBS. I myself have had bad experiences with that LBS mech/snob/spandex guy. Always felt like he didn't have time to answer my questions, so I just kept comin in to ask and annoy and even got a little satisfaction out of it. I was a teen at the time (mid thirties now) and went back a few years ago cause I needed a tube and didn't want to wait. He was still there and still had no time for me. So I talked to someone else, one who shared my op of the guy and we got along rollingly. Another shop I used to go to in college was great when I was in college, but when I went back I didn't know anyone and was no longer hip enough. We're all people and some of us just have attitude and we all have opinions, which is why we be rolling along on our 650b convos.
The right shop is the one where you feel you have comradre with someone there. I like having a local shop for good convo dispensing pieces of bike lore and wisdom, not the prices. I buy where I get the best deal, but sometimes I realize the price I pay at the shop is not just for the part but the stories, bits of knowledge, and comfort being around others who share my hobby.
My current LBS has a few Jamis 650s and shares my opinion that some freedom can be found on 2 wheels of any size. In fact, I haven't talked to anyone there who was snobbish about wheel size, be they big, small, or in between. They know I won't buy everything from them, but I'll be there from time to time to get something.
Appropriate response?... find the LBS that's right for you, share knowledge, splash some funds their way and avoid the ones that have close minded loops for brains.

I absolutely beyond any doubt guarantee you that every community can prosper without an LBS in it

I agree and was speaking more on a generalized term.
However, even though a LBS is not the driving force in a community, it is still part of it. If that LBS employs 5 people and closes down, there are potentially 5 people on unemployment.

Although every business may not drive the community, every business is still an important part of it.

Re: What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

Originally Posted by One Pivot

Why do you care to bother arguing with the lbs guys? Ive had shops do all kinds of weird, questionable things I dont agree with. The appropriate response is nothing. They can do whatever they want up to and including shutting their doors.

I absolutely beyond any doubt guarantee you that every community can prosper without an LBS in it

A cool town sometimes reflects in the quality of the bike shop. I'm reminded for the Cycle hostel in Cumberland, BC. It's a part of the bike shop, dodge city cycles. Not a sure shot for what defines a cool town, but hey it can make up for other things.

Adapt or die. I mean a shop's product mix, its existence, is determined by market forces. If it cant keep up with the market, then it loses out.

But its nice having a bike shop where they know you by name and can take care of your precious bike when you can't. Personally, I only buy online what isnt available in my LBS. But an attitude like the guy you described would make me move to a different shop/

I experiment with and modify my bikes so they are right for me. I could care less if it works for anyone else. I do most of my own maintenance. That's part of why I'm on the 650b forum.

A local wrench scoffed at my 650b wheelset and tires about 18 months ago and was quick to dismiss them as an unsustainable fad. The same person is no longer working at that shop and is now at a shop that is one of three which stock production 650b bikes. How times change... I took his initial skepticism with a grain of salt of course but it was hard to mistake his 'don't assail me with such folly' attitude for some real appreciation that I was spending my money at a business where he worked... regardless of whether my wierdo 650b conversion met with his mechanical blessing or not. It's no wonder the bicycle industry has such a terrible reputation for customer service.

At this point, I have little patience for shops where it doesn't seem like my $ is genuinely needed and wanted. Sometimes clues like a loose quick release or a tire mounted backward make it clear that wrenches can be dangerously lazy, and probably don't care about my safety, or my business. It has been my experience in multiple places over many years that many wrenches may be mechanically good, but lack basic social skills. Of course this is not always the case but I've found that many mechanics and even framebuilders come across in a condescending manner when disbursing 'knowledge'. I don't subsidize snide attitudes with MY money anymore, regardless of what the person may know or what they can do.

I buy local often enough that I contribute to my community just fine. Most of the time I am not making major purposes, but minor things like tubes, sealant, tires, brakes, etc. The point though is that I try visit my lbs often enough, during the right times of year, that it helps them keep the lights on and the doors open in the off season. Because of the web, it takes more from a shop than cheap prices to keep my business.
I still go the lbs for actual customer service, like maintenance I can't do myself, and current riding info. Those are the things that make me support a shop. United Bicycle Institute emphasizes personal skills first above all else, including mechanical skill. I'd rather learn from (and spend my $ on) someone who's actually nice than someone with the same knowledge who can't help being a jackass.

It means you have to divide things up a little more while making a bit more room, and/or carry a bit more stock at any given time. I don't think it's going to break a local bike store. As 650B finds it's place, bike stores will sell what their customers demand. It doesn't complicate things all that much more than it already is.

What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

Consumerism 101.....consumers will gravitate to products that work better for them and you either keep up or you're sol. The last thing to do is then turn around and complain. Nobody is holding a gun to your head to be in the industry. The swift and nimble will not just survive....but thrive.

I wouldn't take one guy's venting during a ride as official store policy (unless he's the owner or something). I would think any shop that is making a go of it in today's internet-driven market has to be open to at least ordering unusual/new/uncommon things if not stocking them.

My shop doesn't have anything 650b on the floor, but I've ordered several 650b-specific things through them and they're completely cool with it. Well, to my face at least. But I've been a customer there for a long time--they know I like to buy weird ****...

Coincidentally enough, I took a call at the shop last night from a fairly new bike enthusiast who just recently went on his first trail ride and was asking about buying his first 'real' mountain bike. He was intrigued by all he'd read about the different wheel sizes and was particularly interested in the 650B's.

I gave him some basic information about the wheel sizes, asked him about his previous experience with mountain bikes and his expectations of a new bike, told him about the bikes we carried (we're a Jamis and KHS dealer, which is primarily why he called us), answered questions about brands we didn't carry and offered him straightforward options and opinions about bikes online. I also let him know how much I liked my Dragon 650B and, since we were close to the same size, told him he could take her out for a spin if he wanted to. In other words, I did my job.

Nothing more, and nothing less.

I'm sorry for all the posters who've had negative experiences with their LBS. You shouldn't walk into any place of business and encounter snobbery. The high-school grom in the back stand should be learning how to assemble kids bikes properly, and not building wheels. Meeting up on a shop trailride shouldn't include uninvited criticism of your rig. Sneering is never permissible.

I think there are simply good shops and bad shops. Good shops listen to questions and do their level best to answer them. The guy I talked to on the phone might come in and see what we have to offer him. Or he might not. Either way, after he hung up the phone, I hope that he felt we were a resource he could use, whether it was for bikes or parts or information or even riding partners. I hope he feels like he was more a part of something he was outside of before. I hope that we helped foster a sense of a community of riders - because that's what good bike shops should do.

All right, I'll stop now. But I'll end with this: I freakin' love my job.

I absolutely beyond any doubt guarantee you that every community can prosper without an LBS in it

I call BS! My idea of a prosperous community includes lots of butts on bikes. The benefits of a bike friendly community are well documented.

However, not everyone has the skills or inclination to wrench on their own bike. Not everyone everyone has the knowledge or inclination to hop on the internet and shop for everything they need to be whatever type of cyclist they want to be. These folks are SOL without an LBS (or bike co-op), whether or not some of the people that work at said LBS are jerks.

Fist of all internet shopping only makes up I will say 15% of total sales across the board (cycling and non cycling) - I have herd everything from 10% to 18% I think last year black Friday online sales were around 10% of total sales. Everybody talks about how much they are growing and yes they are growing but are still a small when compaired to the total numbers of dollars spent in stores. I did work in a bike shop with online sales and our totals agreed with what is the norm around 10% of total sales.

Remember this group is a bit of a skewed population, we are all comfortable on the internet and are using an internet fourm to discuss things so it may seem that all high end parts are bought online and the LBS is only good for tubes, sealent and parts needed right away. On top of that this is specificly a 650b group so it is even more skewed towards internet sales because of availability of parts at this current time.

Secondly it has always been that small shops have to cherry pick their distributors and lines, they can't carry all the products out there. For instance I would consider there to be 4 big (popular) tire manufactures out there that are available to just about any shop out there from their distributors. I don't even know a big shop that carries all 4 of them for both road and mountain tires, and small shops will cherry pick their brands as to what they ride. So what this means for the LBS is that I can see in the future small shops having to pick a stand and specialize on what type of mountain bike they want to carry based on their bike brands and what they ride themselves. Some stores may just want to focus on 29ers others may just focus on long travel 26 and 650b others may just focus on bikes under $1000 depending on what they are comfortable with. But for the big guys out there they will need to carry everything because that is what is expected of them and that is why they are the big guys.

In response to your origional question take it with a grain of salt, the LBS will continue on from all the other people out there who are buying from a person and not a screen. And yes some LBS need to take a stand and carry what they believe in or have available to them.

Most businesses keep stock based on demand. If 275 becomes popular enough it could mean additional revenue. I have noticed my LBS has really increased their mtn bike selection over the years. Many years ago I purchased auto parts from a local supplier that was big on domestic auto's. They always referred me to other stores for asian parts. They eventually went out of business because there stock was too narrow in focus.

I gotta sound in on this because I feel like a couple of you have bad experiences with your LBS, but you gotta remember that you had a bad experience with someone who worked at the shop and it's not the LBS. I myself have had bad experiences with that LBS mech/snob/spandex guy. Always felt like he didn't have time to answer my questions, so I just kept comin in to ask and annoy and even got a little satisfaction out of it. I was a teen at the time (mid thirties now) and went back a few years ago cause I needed a tube and didn't want to wait. He was still there and still had no time for me. So I talked to someone else, one who shared my op of the guy and we got along rollingly. Another shop I used to go to in college was great when I was in college, but when I went back I didn't know anyone and was no longer hip enough. We're all people and some of us just have attitude and we all have opinions, which is why we be rolling along on our 650b convos.
The right shop is the one where you feel you have comradre with someone there. I like having a local shop for good convo dispensing pieces of bike lore and wisdom, not the prices. I buy where I get the best deal, but sometimes I realize the price I pay at the shop is not just for the part but the stories, bits of knowledge, and comfort being around others who share my hobby.
My current LBS has a few Jamis 650s and shares my opinion that some freedom can be found on 2 wheels of any size. In fact, I haven't talked to anyone there who was snobbish about wheel size, be they big, small, or in between. They know I won't buy everything from them, but I'll be there from time to time to get something.
Appropriate response?... find the LBS that's right for you, share knowledge, splash some funds their way and avoid the ones that have close minded loops for brains.

^^^Agree whole heartedly.

Although I won't label myself a trend setter in this "alternate quirky wheel lifestyle", but after dabbling for several years now with more than the occassionoal "wtf's with those wheels?" or "when you going to grow into a 29'r?" jabs from some shop employees ranging from floor sweeper to GM's, it's kinda nice to roll into shops nowadays and getting comments from some of the same guys about "man, guess you were onto something huh"...

What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

Originally Posted by JMac47

"man, guess you were onto something huh"...

Some get it, some don't. Let 'em eat crow.

Of my close riding mates- 2 still on 26", 2 on 29"- only one of the 29'er guys will go so far as saying that I MIGHT be onto something with 27.5". Even MIGHT be "ahead of the curve." Of the 2 26" riders, one is about 6'3" tall. His next bike WILL be 29". The other guy is 5'8" tall and right now is in no hurry to get a new bike. He is a bit conservative and would only go 27.5" if the big bike manufacturers put a few models on their line and at least some of our LBS sell them from the floor. That won't likely happen till 2014.

Old enough to know better. And old enough not to care. Best age to be.

Now most shops worth their salt carry an AM line, trail and xc. It makes a lot of sense that the 275 will take over the AM and trail line. 29ers can cover the xc/race end. Folks who've ridden all 3 wheels sizes in various applications usually get it.

Of my close riding mates- 2 still on 26", 2 on 29"- only one of the 29'er guys will go so far as saying that I MIGHT be onto something with 27.5". Even MIGHT be "ahead of the curve." Of the 2 26" riders, one is about 6'3" tall. His next bike WILL be 29". The other guy is 5'8" tall and right now is in no hurry to get a new bike. He is a bit conservative and would only go 27.5" if the big bike manufacturers put a few models on their line and at least some of our LBS sell them from the floor. That won't likely happen till 2014.

Given that what they've seen is my 6&8 yr old converted ht frame's, an '06 KHS fs frame, recently upgraded to a new '09 Bastardo frame but only bought last spring. I doubt I'll be getting any of the "new" technology that's coming out anytime soon. Possibly a 650 specific fork at somepoint for the Ventana but of a Velvet/Loop pricepoint. Until then the Fox Floats and Vanilla will carry me across any trail rubble I encounter.

I got into mountain biking in 1995 and invested a lot in the technology at the time (26", 3x8) getting all the best parts. Over ther years, there have been so many changes to standards (handlebar clamp size, gears, steerer tubes, wheel diameters, v-brakes - disc brakes {two mounting styles}, axle sizes.......) and I really got turned off by it so I stuck with what I had. My main ride being a 1996 Diamondback Axis with top of the line parts from the day. Now that I am looking at the idea of getting a new bike, I want it to be on my terms, so I plan to make the choice based on what I feel is best. For the riding I do and my height, 650b makes the most sense, so I have no sympathy for anyone in the bike industry that is not happy with the latest changes. I am the one with the money and it is my time to speak with it in buying what I want.

Bike shops are relegated to the needy, they should be thankful to need to stock more variety to RE-SELL baed on market demand. (which is what they do already) WTF?

Bingo!!!

I simply don't understand why a bike shop wouldn't embrace anything new and controversial. Afterall, this juices consumer interest and that usually results in more sales. Selling the same ole same ole is a twindling business model. They should be so lucky to "have to" stock more bikes, tires, and tubes that will fly off the shelves.

They should be so lucky to "have to" stock more bikes, tires, and tubes that will fly off the shelves.

Except they don't fly off the shelves... They sit around until someone happens to walk in looking for that obscure part and they need it today. If they can wait until next week, they will order it online. People don't buy mountain bike stuff from a shop unless it's as cheap as online and bike shops can't match that pricing or even come close to it. You can get an XT crank online for $200 dollars. Bike shop cost (what the bike shop pays for it) is $220.

These are all nice sentiments but far from reality in market where mountain bike sales of all kinds are dwindling. Even though 650b and 29ers are popular and both segments are growing, the market as a whole for mountain bikes is down and continuing to go down. Foot traffic doesn't matter if people don't buy anything and use the shop as a virtual showroom.

Online sales for all products might seem low comparatively but online sales for bicycle accessories is much higher than 10% and the significance of black Friday is huge. 10% at a bike shop in terms of profitability can mean the difference between profit and closing. The average bike shop customer makes more income than the average bike shop earns in profit in a year. If the figure is 10% for Black Friday retail sales you have to remember that's saying 10% of all retail sales for the entire year happened in one day. That is huge. That whole shopping weekend makes up more than 10% of all retail sales for the entire year. That means a significant portion of the population isn't buying anything until that sale.

Also, 650b at retail shops is still something that will sell eventually for a discount. Yes it will generate interest. It will generate foot traffic but so will a 29er and the shop will turn a dozen 29er before they turn one 650b bike. It's not that shops don't want to sell them. You have to think in terms of the shop to understand why they would complain. Why should they carry 1650b which might sell eventually at a discount vs stocking product that will be sold out for sure at full price? If it were your money what would you do?

Except they don't fly off the shelves... They sit around until someone happens to walk in looking for that obscure part and they need it today. If they can wait until next week, they will order it online. People don't buy mountain bike stuff from a shop unless it's as cheap as online and bike shops can't match that pricing or even come close to it. You can get an XT crank online for $200 dollars. Bike shop cost (what the bike shop pays for it) is $220.

Keep the faith. I've tried several LBS in order to support my LBS'. But, I do buy mostly stuff used, and do most of my wrenching, but will go in LBS and bend over and buy tubes, bottles, tires ect.. I walked into a shop that i have known the owner for 20+years and left feeling unworthy of their time. Tried another shop and left feeling like an idiot. At this point i was done with LBS's. One day i needed a chain for an AM ride, and online was not an option. I reluctantly stopped into another LBS, Owner admitted that they were more of a "roadie" shop. I thought to myself, "again, really?". BUT, they "JRAB"s in Laytonsville, Md, helped me out. I left feeling like, WOW. They gave a ****. I have been back a few time for stuff. I have always left feeling like they were happy i came by. I wish i could do more $$ for them. My point is to keep looking, they are out there. Support them. Even if its only 2 tubes and a bottle. Tell your riding buddies about them, or post on a forum. Its nice to be able to pick up something that will allow you to ride in AM. Isn't that worth the extra $$? As for original post, Its must be hard to try to keep what everybody wants on their shelves. The LBS has to buy it, keep it on their shelves and pay inventory taxes on it. Then they get to sell some stuff in the bargain bin for a loss. I wouldn't want to tie my money up on new questionable potentional fads. Thanks to all the LBS's that have their customers leaving feeling like they matter .

If the LBS tells me that 27.5" is a "questionable fad", then not only will I leave feeling like I don't matter, it will reinforce my distrust of LBS in general

Which is the point of this thread in the first place.

So when you go into a shop looking for X and they don't have it, don't ask them why they don't have it. You might not like the answer. Too bad. If the shop had enough people asking for X they would be stocking it. You seem to be under the impression that because you get someone saying "it's a fad" means that other people have asked for X but the store doesn't stock it anyway because of some personal bias. Bike shops will sell fads if people buy them. Fat bikes are a huge fad right now IMO and people buy them so bike shops sell them. People talk about 650b, and a lot of them are talking about converting their 26er. People aren't rushing to buy 650b because there aren't many whole bikes. Bike shops sell whole bikes and service. The amount of people that go into a bike shop just for part upgrades is incredibly small.

i'v been on 650b's for a couple of years, had to internet tires and wheelsets,
i wanted to try in the vee missions tires, i gave a lbs a chance to order for me
but they said they could not get them, so i had to internet.

I feel for most lbs owners. Sadly, most lbs owners that I have encountered in my 20 plus years of riding are the typical lbs knuckleheads. I pray for the others out there that do it right. Lucky for the lbs that all people with bikes are not like the people on these forums that can fix their stuff and know what they want when they shop online for bikes or parts. Gtr-33 clearly knows his stuff. Good post

What is the appropriate response to local bike shop complaint about 275?

Originally Posted by GTR-33

So when you go into a shop looking for X and they don't have it, don't ask them why they don't have it. You might not like the answer. Too bad. If the shop had enough people asking for X they would be stocking it. You seem to be under the impression that because you get someone saying "it's a fad" means that other people have asked for X but the store doesn't stock it anyway because of some personal bias. Bike shops will sell fads if people buy them. Fat bikes are a huge fad right now IMO and people buy them so bike shops sell them. People talk about 650b, and a lot of them are talking about converting their 26er. People aren't rushing to buy 650b because there aren't many whole bikes. Bike shops sell whole bikes and service. The amount of people that go into a bike shop just for part upgrades is incredibly small.

I have been riding 27.5" for two years; two bikes; all parts purchased online. Two wheelsets home built. I like the bikes; I do not think the wheel size is a questionable fad. If my LBS says it is (two have already and won't sell them) then the result is simple and obvious. I won't use either LBS and will buy the next whole bike online, be it Turner, Rocky Mtn, Intense , Cube, or whatever.

"Too bad" for who? Not for me; I will save money buying online. For the LBS? Probably not; they lost one customer who wants a so far unpopular product. BFD. They don't need or want a consumer like me. They don't need or want unsold product on their floor.

Then again, there is a Norco dealer 50 miles away from me which will have Killer B's on the floor thIs spring. I will likely make the drive and scope out the Norcos before pulling the trigger for online purchase.

If I end up buying from THAT LBS, then "good for them" not "too bad." They stocked what their supplier wanted them to carry, risky or not, and some consumer drove 50 miles to close a purchase because his local shops were playing it safe, or lacked imagination, or were just plain know-it-all old school ***** who didn't give a crap.

Last edited by dwt; 02-10-2013 at 09:02 PM.

Old enough to know better. And old enough not to care. Best age to be.